The List: 5 Jul 2001 (Issue 417)

Tracey Moffat’s tragi-comic series of photographs Scarred For I ife ll

GROUP SHOW

TRAUMA

Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Sat 7 Jul—Sun 2 Sep.

With a daily diet of apocalypse for breakfast, it’s perhaps no surprise that levels of psychosis and neurosis are reaching epidemic levels. Increased awareness of the interconnectivity of global life, the daily tightrope of potential mutual annihilation consumes many a strung-out denizen of this island earth. DCA’s latest exhibition Trauma may not cleanse your soul, but it may provide the necessary balm to soothe your feverish brow.

The exhibition features an impressive selection of international artists. As well as Johan Grimonprez, famous for producing the highly engaging and memorable video Dial H for History an astute, eye- opening look at international terrorism, there’s Christopher Wool’s monochromatic text paintings overflowing with the expletive rage of street graffiti (Fuck ‘em if they can’t take a joke). Other international luminaries include Tracey Moffat, Willie Doherty and Felix Gonzalez-Torres.

The Glaswegian artist Martin Boyce is the one Scottish representative in this international show. For Trauma, Boyce will be exhibiting two pieces. Now I’ve Got Worry (Storage Unit) is a free-standing sculpture comprised of dissonant elements. In part, it is based on

Boyce‘s other piece Something’s Got To Give is an orange silk-screened poster with the text: 'watching all the day’s horrors on the evening news, I thought back to earlier and the stuffed toy animal I had seen stuck to the rear window of the car in front of rne‘.

‘The text is just about pinpointing a moment in time ' says Boyce. ‘A little capsule account of an unspectacular everyday experience. Which in turn seems to make a connection between the stream of everyday catastrophes received via the news and the feel good ‘honk if you‘re horny' communication we receive from bumper stickers, T—shirts, etc. In relation to the idea of Trauma, is it the news or the stuffed toy animal that is traumatic?‘

Bringing to the surface the dark matter hidden beneath the flimsy veneer of social pleasantries obviously engenders a cathartic impulse. By outing such repressed blockages these artists are obviously hoping to go some way to purging us all of our collective hang-ups. So if you’re feeling crippled inside Trauma may just be the therapy you need.

AND FlNAt lY TWO l tieK‘.’ painters picked from the art schools of Aheitteeir Dundee Edinburgh and Glasgow Will be giVeii the chance to show work at the prestigious satesi'ooiiis of Phillips Edinburgh from Monday 16 Saturday 21 hin All works will be for sale Wltll the full price going directly to the (till)!